Wednesday, December 7, 2016

This book, about a pastry chef running from her mistakes until she runs smack into a place she can call home, is a confection. And I mean that in the best possible way: it's sweet with just the right hints of tartness and salt, and, like a great dessert, it leaves you wanting more.

Livvy is living and working in Boston with nothing but her abandonment issues and a married boyfriend to keep her warm at night until she accidentally torches the posh club where she works with an errant baked Alaska. As she always does when the going gets tough, she runs -- this time, to her best friend Hannah's home in Guthrie, a pastorally perfect Vermont town. One thing leads to another, and soon this big-city baker finds herself making desserts at the quaint Sugar Maple B&B, whose crotchety owner, Margaret, is hell-bent on reclaiming the blue ribbon at the annual apple pie contest that her archenemy wrested from her the year before. Livvy also begins to connect with a neighboring couple and with their prodigal son Martin, who's come home to say goodbye to his dying father but, like Livvy herself, won't make any promises to anyone beyond that. Over the course of a year Livvy learns to open up and put down roots for the first time in her life, and her journey is never anything less than believable. I loved all the characters, especially prickly, funny, warmhearted Livvy, and the ending packed a few surprises yet also felt truly earned, a tricky combination to nail.

Louise Miller renders the Vermont landscape in all seasons beautifully, and between its shimmering descriptions of Guthrie's humble barns and fields and of Livvy's mouthwatering desserts, the book reads like a New England version of A Year in Provence -- it takes you somewhere magical and makes you wish you could stay there forever. This is a delightful read!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

The church.. It's a sea of shipwrecks and broken boards. tattered souls, little pieces of gypsy cloth all sewn together in a patchwork quilt; a beautiful wonderful mess and all that pieces it together is the golden thread that is Jesus. At least that's how it should be. We are not all one in the same we are ebbs and flows we are highs and we are terrible lows we are outsiders and insiders we are a kaleidoscope of stories whose single thread is Jesus Christ. I do not look like you, you do not look like me we are different.. our eyes don't see the same things our hearts don't feel the same things.. our minds don't think the same things,we are different. But He binds us together so that I can see you and you can see me and we can love each other

Monday, June 4, 2012

Born June 1st of 2012 at 7:40 in the morning...little boy Brennan came to stay. Tis' true love already indeed...You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes. ~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

If you read this blog then you know little Emry Adysson is quite the practical thinker. No outside thinking for this one.
A few days ago we were driving around town and Emry was staring out the window deep in thought..finally she asked a question and the most hilarious conversation ensued.
Em: "Mom, do squirrels poop?"
Me: "Um, yes"
Em: "Does everything poop?"
Me: "yes"
Em: "Do flowers poop?"
Me: "uh no, plants don't poop silly"
Em: "Then what poops?"
Me: "uh...everything that moves"
Em: "Does our van poop?"
(okay, i'm like really laughing by now, this girl!)
Me: "nope, good point, our van does not poop."
Em: "So what poops mom?"
Me: "You tell me Em..."
Em: "EVERYTHING WITH A BUTT MOM!"
(she said this with that total DUH! voice that only children can do)

I mean seriously, it was a battle of wits and I lost...to a four year old. It killed me. Pardon the excessive use of the word poop, we don't really believe in good manners around here. heehee!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

This is a little late, but! Reagan turned the lovely age of two on February 24th! My parents were able to come down for the weekend and we had seriously, one of the most cherished birthday parties ever. I've come to realize that I'm just not a themed, birthday blow out type of mum. I used to really beat myself up over my lack of birthday cake making abilities, the total lack of streamers and matched gift bags etc...but I'm just not that girl. I love a sort of rustic cake, I love earthy, organic little decor, but mostly...mostly, I love just having everyone who I love all coming together and eating good food and having sweet fellowship. And thats what we did, I made a big pot of the best ever pork carnitas (seriously, I just do it in the crock pot and they have never failed me) Add another crock pot of homemade beans, and some flour tortillas and we were golden. Oh! did I mention our very own Lupe made Spanish rice and the most amazing pico de gallo I have ever had, like ever?! yeah, she did.
We ate and it was loud and busy and so warm and just...I don't know, perfect. Then we finished with a homemade tres leches (once again, this recipe is a bit time consuming but absolutely to die for)
I will post pics of the amazing birthday present John made for her as soon as it gets a bit sunnier here. It will knock your socks off...I was pretty darn impressed.
I threw in a few more tribute videos for the little Reaganizer as I so fondly call her. The first is a video we sent John while he was at work, she was being so sweet...I love when she sings "As the deer"....she says "you alone are me hearts..." my little worshipping pirate.
the next one was taken this morning at breakfast. Reagan is obsessed with Annie. As in the musical. She saw it at church in nursery and now sings the Sandy song (dumb dog! why are you so alone dog!) etc, but the best part? when she mimicks a scene where the evil Mrs. Hannigan is putting the moves on a police officer and a little orphan girl mocks her with " kissy kissy kissy" inciting Mrs. Hannigan to scream shut up!
Reagan does it verbatim. And although its not ideal to have a two year old yell shut up...its pretty stinking hilarious.
Here you have it!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

As you know, I spent last weekend seeing my grandma one last time before she went home to be with Jesus. I don't feel like expounding much, it was a private time and all at once cathartic and painfully heartbreaking. however, I have to share a few videos and pictures.
My Grandma has a malignant brain tumor right behind her eyes, and as it grows she diminishes. Its hard to accept and see God's grace there, but then...
When I first saw her she was disoriented and rambling, I was shocked to say the least. I hadn't realized how much the tumor had taken from her already. She would get increasingly agitated and repeat things over and over, almost as if she had early dementia. But one thing I remembered as I sat there holding her hand, trying to find my Grandma that I knew, is that she loved to wake up every morning with my grandfather and sing worship songs to Jesus and pray...so I asked her if I could sing to her. And as we sang, her mind came back, her smile came back, the anxious rambling ceased and there was a sweet tangible presence of God that said, "I'm still here, I still care, I haven't forsaken her now."
Those songs, the same three, will probably always have the ability to bring tears to my eyes now because of their meaning to me and my time with her. To see my mama hold her mama, tears in her eyes and praising Jesus, it hurt so badly and brought such peace at the same time. God has loved my Grandma, and in her last days, he hasn't left her, his presence hasn't gone, if anything He's more present than ever. Its speaking his word, speaking to Him, worshiping Him that brings peace to her...and I am so grateful I got to see that, and feel the love of an amazing God so tangibly near me.
I love you mama, and I love you Nanan Biha...Hu Guaiya hao.

(sorry my video is a little blurry and hard to hear, it is basically me praying for my Grandma before I said goodbye for the final time, I don't want to forget it)